The book contains 29 fairy tales from the Jatakas, or birth stories of Buddha, the fables of Bidpai and from other Sanskrit sources. The stories are humorous and imaginative and preserve the best nursery elements of Hindu folk-tales.

Contents:

Joseph Jacobs - Biography And Bibliography

Preface

The Lion And The Crane

How The Raja's Son Won The Princess Labam

The Lambikin

Punchkin

The Broken Pot

The Magic Fiddle

The Cruel Crane Outwitted

Loving Laili

The Tiger, The Brahman, And The Jackal

The Soothsayer's Son

Harisaman

The Charmed Ring

The Talkative Tortoise

A Lac Of Rupees For A Bit Of Advice

The Gold-Giving Serpent

The Son Of Seven Queens

A Lesson For Kings

Pride Goeth Before A Fall

Raja Rasalu

The Ass In The Lion's Skin

The Farmer And The Money-Lender

The Boy Who Had A Moon On His Forehead And A Star On His Chin

The Prince And The Fakir

Why The Fish Laughed

The Demon With The Matted Hair

The Ivory City And Its Fairy Princess

How Sun, Moon, And Wind Went Out To Dinner

How The Wicked Sons Were Duped

The Pigeon And The Crow

Notes And References

I. The Lion And The Crane.

Ii. Princess Labam.

Iii. Lambikin.

Iv. Punchkin.

V. The Broken Pot.

Vi. The Magic Fiddle.

Vii. The Cruel Crane Outwitted.

Viii. Loving Laili

Ix. The Tiger, The Brahman, And The Jackal.

X. The Soothsayer's Son.

Xi. Harisarman.

Xii. The Charmed Ring.

Xiii. The Talkative Tortoise.

Xiv. Lac Of Rupees.

Xv. The Gold-Giving Serpent.

Xvi. The Son Of Seven Queens.

Xvii. A Lesson For Kings.

Xviii. Pride Goeth Before A Fall.

Xix. Raja Rasalu.

Xx. The Ass In The Lion's Skin.

Xxi. The Farmer And The Money-Lender.

Xxii. The Boy With Moon On Forehead.

Xxiii. The Prince And The Fakir.

Xxiv. Why The Fish Laughed.

Xxv. The Demon With The Matted Hair.

Xxvi. The Ivory Palace.

Xxvii. Sun, Moon, And Wind.

Xxviii. How Wicked Sons Were Duped.

Xxix.